The Romans are here, in ROME! Discover the dramatic rise and fall of the Roman Empire, its lasting global impact, and the fascinating (and sometimes contentious) question of who inherited its crown. Then, meet Boethius, the last classical scholar, whose time on death row led to The Consolation of Philosophy. This episode unpacks his brilliant philosophy of causation, free will, and how god knows the future without pre-determining our choices. We'll explore Aristotle's Sea Battle paradox, Boethius's own #LogicalInnovations (like De hypotheticis syllogismis), and his monumental effort to translate Greek mathematics and #Philosophy, shaping the entire medieval intellectual landscape. Get ready for #AncientHistory, deep #PhilosophyPodcast, and the "sneaky maths" that saved #WesternThought! Keywords: #Boethius #ConsolationOfPhilosophy #RomanEmpire #LateAntiquity #MedievalPhilosophy #TemporalLogic #FreeWill #Causation #Providence #Fate #Quadrivium #HistoryOfMaths #HistoryPodcast

This week we explore the brilliant, and tragically short, life of Hypatia of Alexandria. Born around 370 CE, she was a pioneering female mathematician and philosopher who led the last great school of mathematics in the ancient world.

Hypatia’s story is also a dramatic tale of political and religious upheaval. A respected pagan intellectual with influence in Alexandria's civic life, she found herself caught in the violent conflicts of the early Christian church. Join us as we examine the forces that shaped her world and led to her untimely end, reflecting on the fragile legacy of knowledge and the powerful impact of teachers, both ancient and modern.

Keywords:

Hypatia, Alexandria, history of mathematics, female mathematicians, ancient philosophy, Neoplatonism, Theon of Alexandria, early Christianity, Roman Empire, ancient history, mathematics, philosophy, women in STEM, The Mathematicians Podcast.

Hashtags:

#Hypatia #HistoryOfMaths #WomenInMaths #AncientAlexandria #Philosophy #Neoplatonism #TheMathematiciansPodcast #HistoryPodcast #WomenInSTEM #AncientHistory

This week, Pappus of Alexandria, a pivotal figure in 4th-century mathematics. Often considered one of the last great Greco-Roman geometers, Pappus compiled the monumental Synagogue, a comprehensive collection that sought to revive classical Greek geometry.

In this episode: A candid look at Pappus's personality and his notorious public critique of the female mathematician Pandrosion and her student. Pappus’s distinction between "plane," "solid," and the more expansive "linear" problems. Concepts like the Pappus Chain (or Steiner Chain) and his non-Euclidean approach to classic problems like doubling the cube.

Join us as we explore Pappus's legacy, his undeniable impact on the history of mathematics, and Benjamin’s honest (and sometimes scathing!) personal opinions on this complex figure. Plus, a crucial discussion about the often-overlooked women in mathematics and a personal announcement about the future of the podcast!

Keywords: Pappus, Alexandria, Greek Geometry, Synagogue, History of Mathematics, Pandrosion, Female Mathematicians, Euclidean Geometry, Analytic Geometry, Steiner Chain, Pappus Chain, Doubling the Cube, Menaechmus, Archimedes, Apollonius, Ptolemy, Theon of Alexandria, Diophantus, Descartes, Fermat, Newton, Euler, Ancient Greece, Roman Empire, Mathematics Podcast, Geometry, Algebra, History of Science, Mathematical Concepts, Platonic Solids.

Hashtags: #Pappus #MathematicsHistory #GrecoRomanGeometry #AncientMaths #Podcast #TheMathematiciansPodcast #GeometryProblems #AnalyticGeometry #WomenInSTEM #MathsEducation #HistoryOfScience #Alexandria #STEM #ClassicalMathematics